Neuroendocrine tumor arising in Meckel's diverticulum presenting with bowel obstruction

Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is a common developmental abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract that, in adults, is usually asymptomatic but can present with complications including malignancy. Although malignancy in MD is rare overall, MD is recognized a high-risk site for tumorigenesis compared to the surrounding ileum. Neuroendocrine neoplasms are the most common malignancy arising in MD and are often associated with nodal metastases, even if the primary tumor is small. We report the case of a 66-year-old male who underwent exploratory laparotomy for small bowel obstruction and was intraoperatively found to have MD causing an internal hernia. Pathologic examination of the diverticulectomy specimen revealed a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor, grade 1, pathologic stage pT2. The case highlights the role of resection for incidentally found and symptomatic MD due to the elevated risk of malignancy at this site.